Top FIFA official sees last minute rush to World CupBy STEPHON NICHOLAS Saturday, September 4 2010
WITH the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup just one day away, Tatjana Haenni, FIFA Head of Women’s Competitions, remains concerned with the readiness of the five stadia for the tournament.
Haenni yesterday highlighted areas such as lighting for TV production, media and safety as being critical for the proper staging of a FIFA event.
Haenni expressed satisfaction, however, that everything would be in place when the tournament kicks off tomorrow.
“We have been informed that people are working tirelessly. We’re still fully convinced that everything will be in place,” she explained, “certain things are a bit last minute in this country,” she added.
Haenni was speaking at a media conference hosted by the Local Organising Committee at the Hyatt regency in Port-of-Spain.
“We understand, however, that everywhere is not the same,” she noted.
Haenni revealed that the LOC was given a deadline to sort out the lighting issue by yesterday and official training sessions took place yesterday in Tobago although not all the facilities at the venue were able to be utilised.
Oliver Camps, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) admitted that there have been a few setbacks but promised that “things would be ready”.
Meanwhile, Nataki Kerr, head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), expressed optimism that the venues would be up to standard for the World Cup.
“We are working 24/7 and turning night into day,” she explained.
“We have to make sure players and officials are comfortable while they are here,,” she added. Kerr conceded that there has been a mad rush for tickets this week by local football supporters.
Persons interested in purchasing tickets can do so today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 9 am-3pm and on Sunday from 9 am - 3:45 pm. Fans in Tobago can buy tickets at the Bmobile outlet on Wilson Road, Scarborough.
Kerr revealed that corporate clients have purchased thousands of tickets for the matches and they have been distributing them to schools randomly. She explained that some companies have chosen to distribute tickets to schools which they are affiliated to.
She noted that although ticket sales have been below what was expected so far she is optimistic that stadiums will be full to capacity or at least three-quarter full.
Action kicks off on Sunday with matches in Group “A” and Group “B”. Host country Trinidad and Tobago will take on Chile at 6 pm in their opening match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium while Nigeria will do battle with defending champions North Korea at 3pm at the same venue.
In Group “B”, Germany will play Mexico at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Scarborough at 4 pm while South Africa comes up against South Korea three hours later.
